The Veteran Fire Corps will consist of 2 teams that will be comprised of recent-era Military
Veterans with the training, credentials and experience they need to competitively pursue wildland fire and/or forestry careers. Teams will be based in the Black Hills National Forest and Kaibab National Forest. Teams will provide assistance with habitat restoration and maintenance on agency and partner lands. Projects may include but are not limited to participation on prescribed fires, fuels reduction, fire effects monitoring, FIREWISE educational outreach and pre fire preparation of burn units. This position offers a great variety of field and office work including: hiking forest settings gathering field data, using manual and mechanical means to construct fire line. The work schedule may vary, typical work hitches could include working up to 4 consecutive 10-hour days with 3 days off. Site-specific work schedule and details are developed by the SCA Project Leader and with guidance from the local US Forest Service Fire Ecologist
Black Hills National Forest (5/21/12 – 8/17/12) PO-00047159 / PO-00047160
The Black Hills are in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, covering an area 125 miles long and 65 miles wide. They encompass rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves. Land and Resource Management projects are undertaken to improve forest health by reducing fire hazards, increasing resistance to insect attacks, and improving tree growth, diversity, range conditions or wildlife habitats throughout the 1.5 million acres on the Black Hills National Forest including 300,000 acres of intermixed non-federal lands. Some of these projects include tree thinning and prescribed burning, invasive plant treatments, livestock grazing, and hardwood enhancement. The team primary purpose will be the thinning of hazardous vegetative fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface. Hazardous fuels work may include thinning vegetation, hand piling fuels, limbing and brushing vegetation, and prescribed fire. All work will consist of hand work with chainsaws and hand tools.
Kaibab/ Prescott National Forest (5/21/12 – 8/17/12) PO-00067211
The forest is nestled on the Colorado Plateau. The Mogollon Rim forms the south boundary. Grand Canyon National Park bisects the center of the forest. To the north, the forest extends almost to the border with Utah. Elevations range from about 3,000 feet to 10,418 feet at the top of Kendrick Mountain. Beginning in low elevation grasslands and sagebrush, the forest steps up through forests of pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine to fir, spruce and aspen. The team’s primary work will be reduction of hazardous fuels in Wildland Urban Interface areas. Hazardous fuels work may include thinning vegetation, hand piling fuels, limbing and brushing vegetation, and prescribed fire. All work will consist of hand work with chainsaws and hand tools.
General Information:
o Teams consist of 5 members and 1 SCA Project Leader
o Veterans Fire Corps Training starts on May 21st
Extensive training will include: SCA staff & member expectations, Wildland Fire Fighting Red Card Certification, Wilderness First Aid, CPR, Leave No Trace, defensive driving, GPS, tools usage and safety, chainsaw usage and safety, any other necessary training specific to each project.
o Housing will be provided and vary depending on location
o Team will be traveling extensively and required to camp in some instances
o As most sites are remote, it is strongly recommended (but not required) that team members bring a personal vehicle to use on their off-time.